So for those of you in college and out in the workforce, can I ask you something? When you where in school, did anyone mention anything about a portfolio to help you get a job? I went through my whole college career without hearing anything about it. So when my mom started mentioning putting together a portfolio I started looking for information and while I was reading I got the same feeling that I've gotten whenever I do anything job related - that I'm in way over my head. I feel like I don't really have anything to showcase in a portfolio dispite going through college. Do any of you have any tips or advice?

Well, I assume a portfolio is the equivalent of a cv, and I've only written one once and I somehow got the job. (I'm only 16 though)

 

It's basically just a paragraph where you sell yourself and what makes you unique and then a list of all your qualifications with proof if necessary (NEVER EVER EVER GIVE THE REAL CERTIFICATE /PROOF ALWAYS GIVE A PHOTOCOPY) and your contact details.

 

I'm sure there's people on the site who are in a better position than me to help, but I tried! Good luck with the job!

From my understanding, you will require a portfolio depending on the occupation you wish to apply for. So if you apply to an architectural or software company, you will likely need a portfolio to show your skill and capabilities. For other jobs, however, like clerk, you will not need it, only a cover letter and resume. Oh, and for jobs that do require a portfolio, you obviously still need a resume and cover letter. Your career choice, which I don't know what it is, is probably why you haven't heard of portfolios.

 

This is just my understanding, I may be wrong, but it seems like the most logical answer to me.

I thought you only need a portfolio for certain types of jobs. If you've gone this long without hearing anything about a portfolio, chances are you won't need one on your path. The paths that do require a portfolio lend itself to you assembling one along the way: writers collect the stories/articles they've written overtime, artists assemble their pieces, programmers have their... programs, etc., and when it comes time to assemble a portfolio, they tailor their collection to the specific position. There might be other fields that need to do this. I don't know what the deal is in, say, business, but if a portfolio was involved somewhere, I'm sure someone somewhere down the line would've mentioned it to you by now. I'd say try not to freak out too much over this, or if there is something missing, know that it's not too late to learn more and do more and prove that, even if you're behind the curve a bit, you're still being proactive and showing you're willing to learn.

I just started college and I have not been told so I am afraid I can't answer for you.

I have heard news concerning portfolios and admittedly they overwhelm me as well.  I do believe that they are only for certain career paths, though how one would build a portfolio without the relevant experience baffles me, too.  My advice would be to see what you can do without a portfolio since you wouldn't have relevant content to submit in the portfolio anyway and see what happens.  Perhaps there are professionals in your line of work that could offer some suggestions?  Also, have any of the jobs that you've tried applying to ever request portfolios?  While most jobs consider them optional, I've noticed that there's some companies that will only consider candidates if they can see their previous work.  It seems kind of silly and rather nit-picky to me, but ah well.